In Brief

More Catholic Converts Reported This Year

According to a National Catholic Register report, Easter 2024 brought a bountiful harvest for the Catholic Church across the United States. Numerous dioceses reported significant increases in the number of converts, such as the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, which experienced a remarkable 72% increase in converts compared to Easter 2023. Several other dioceses witnessed notable increases, such as the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, seeing a 70% rise, and the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, experiencing an 87% increase. Many attributed the upswing to factors such as a spiritual hunger within society.

Florida Will Not Comply with Federal Rule That Supports “Woke” Ideology in Schools

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has announced that Florida will not comply with the Biden administration’s recently finalized rule expanding Title IX protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity. DeSantis, known for his stance against “woke” ideology and LGBT indoctrination in schools, declared that Florida will not allow the federal government to rewrite Title IX. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. issued a directive to school superintendents, instructing them not to implement any changes based on the new rule. Attorney General Ashley Moody confirmed that her office plans to challenge the rule in court, citing concerns about its impact on women’s protection and privacy. Florida’s response reflects a commitment to parental rights, student safety and upholding state education laws.

Survey Confirms Conservatives Happier Than Liberals

America has recently fallen in global happiness rankings, with Gallup reporting a drop from fifteenth to twenty-third place in just one year. Surveys indicate that certain groups, such as liberals and younger Americans, are experiencing greater unhappiness compared to others. The happiness gap between conservatives and liberals has long been observed, with liberals consistently reporting higher rates of mental illness. Factors contributing to this disparity include ideological differences, the rise of depression among young people starting in 2012 and the influence of social media.

Pro-life Laws Drive Abortion Facilities Farther Away from Abortion-Seekers

Recent data reveals that due to the enforcement of pro-life laws, millions of American women of reproductive age now live over 200 miles away from the nearest abortion facility. As state Supreme Courts uphold laws restricting abortions, such as Florida’s six-week ban, access to abortion becomes increasingly challenging for women, often requiring lengthy drives to neighboring states. Studies confirm that greater distance to abortion facilities leads to reduced and delayed access to abortion, highlighting the impact of pro-life laws in saving lives.

Tinkering with Nature Could Cause Catastrophic Consequences

In Dubai, heavy rainfall, reportedly the heaviest in seventy-five years, resulted in devastating floods and dozens of deaths following cloud-seeding missions aimed at increasing precipitation. Despite initial acknowledgment by a government meteorologist of the role of geoengineering efforts in the extreme weather, subsequent denials by the government task force responsible for cloud-seeding missions have led to speculation about the true cause, with some blaming “climate change” instead. Meanwhile, in California, researchers from the University of Washington conducted a controversial experiment aboard a decommissioned aircraft carrier to test cloud-brightening techniques to reflect sunlight and cool the earth’s climate. While proponents argue that such methods could mitigate global warming, critics raise concerns about potential unintended consequences, such as altering precipitation patterns and exacerbating extreme weather events.

Mass Attendance in Italy Falls to Ten Percent

A study by Professor Luca Diotallevi of the University of Rome reveals the drastic decline in the Catholic faith in Italy, with Mass attendance plummeting to as low as 10% of the population in some areas. Professor Diotallevi’s study highlights this decline over the past three decades, attributing it to various factors, including the COVID19 pandemic. One significant finding is the increasing abandonment of the faith by Italian women, historically seen as pillars of the parish, which could have profound implications for future generations. Additionally, there is a decline in the return to faith among the elderly. Diotallevi suggests liturgical abuses and scandals within the Church, including moral and financial issues, contribute to this decline. He predicts that unless addressed, Italy may soon see Catholicism reduced to single-digit participation rates.

Idaho to Enforce Ban on Sex-Change Procedures for Transgender Minors

In a recent development, the U.S. Supreme Court has given the go-ahead to Idaho to enforce its ban on sex-change procedures for transgender youths. The decision came after a lower court initially blocked the implementation of Idaho’s Vulnerable Child Protection Act (VCPA), which was designed to prohibit medical interventions like puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria. The VCPA has faced legal challenges from two transgender-identifying girls and their families, who argued that the law would deny necessary medical care and infringe upon their rights. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador welcomed the decision, emphasizing the state’s duty to protect all children and ensure they receive care rooted in biological reality. ■